This was probably bound to happen soon. For all the talk about how Starbucks is a premium lifestyle experience (with a beverage in tow) and not just a coffee shop, they then make a bone-headed move and turn that perception on its head.

How? One word: “Trenta”

What the heck?

» Read more: The Perplexing Tale of the Starbucks Trenta

It’s been 9 months since the release of the iPad and the device has increased in popularity at an unprecedented rate. I was confused about the usefulness of the device and wondered how the iPad was so different from the iPod Touch or iPhone?

Even today, I ask: For an individual user,  what does the iPad do so differently that justifies its high price point? It’s hard to even visualize a scenario where the iPad would be a complete substitute for either a laptop or a netbook or a smart phone.

Based on some research and Prof. Sawhney’s analysis, here’s what I’ve concluded. » Read more: Why the iPad is here to stay

It’s been a while since I’ve written and much has happened since then – some good and some bad. I’m glad , though, to pen my thoughts about ‘Blue Ocean Strategy’ an very cool piece of work by two INSEAD professors – Kim and Mauborgne. These two chaps have been writing about value innovation for a while now. Visit HBR if you’d like to get a summary of their writing on value innovation.

But, I digress. Let’s get back to blue oceans. » Read more: Why a Blue Ocean Strategy is Critical for Growth

As part of your online marketing strategy, you have to conduct customer segmentation to understand how your market is split up and how you can service those splits effectively to grab more market share. Once you have split your market into segments, you can then decide which ones to focus on. Targeting is the actual selection of a group on consumers that should be affected the most by what the company has to offer.

It’s best to target the best of breed which means that all segments should be evaluated and only the most profitable should be focused on. » Read more: Online Targeting – the fundamentals

My series on Jack Trout continues this month. Here I have another interview conducted by Marketing RX back in 2005. I’ve presented this article in in entirety. See the end of article for the original source.

Greetings from Singapore! MarketingRx had the privilege to do some exclusive one-on-one interviews with the speakers at the Global Brand Forum held Nov. 6 and 7 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Here are some excerpts from our interview with Jack Trout, one of the world’s known brand strategists and co-author of “Positioning and The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing.” » Read more: An interview in Singapore with Jack Trout

Here’s the conclusion to the excellent interview of Jack Trout conducted by Tom Anderson. Hope it was useful!

Tom H. C. Anderson: Right so I guess, and you’ve obviously touched on this a bit, but what wisdom would you pass on to the next generations of marketers? » Read more: Jack Trout – Tom Anderson Interview Conclusion

Continuing the Jack Trout interview with Tom Anderson. I’ve broken the interview into 3 parts as it’s not possible to digest Mr. Trout’s pearls of wisdom has this article been one long flowing post.

Tom H. C. Anderson: How do you think the internet has affected choice and the marketing battleground? » Read more: Jack Trout – Tom Anderson Interview – II

Another interview with Jack Trout by Tom Anderson from NextGen Market Research.  As always, Mr. Trout is engaging, insightful, analytical and precise in his elaboration of marketing concepts. He speaks about marketing in general, his thoughts on research and bring up his Differentiate or Die book.

I’ve provided the interview in two parts.  » Read more: Jact Trout – Tom Anderson Interview – I